How to Identify Internet Marketing Scams Very EasilyInternet Marketing Scams – Important MessageRecognizing Online Marketing Scams - How to Design WebsitesInternet Marketing Help – Best Business Opportunity – work at home online jobsHow 2 Work From Home – Internet Marketing Mentor

Christian Internet Marketing: Selling Greed Using Jesus

jesus-bannerI came across this banner for bethsmoney.com (will not reward the site with a hyperlink) that claims a Christian mom earns $5,000 working at home. When a person uses religion to sell an Internet biz opp, the warning bells start to go off.

The website doesn’t pass the smell test, starting with what appears to be  stock photo of “Beth” and an elderly lady. Here’s a disclaimer in white text on a gray background at the bottom of the sales page:

“This page and associated pages on this site are an advertisement. All persons mentioned on this blog are fictional examples of people who used the promoted products and is for demonstration purposes only. The statements contained herein come from many different people and are not necessarily being made about the specific products discussed.”

Fictional people and the statements might not even be about the specific products discussed in the sales page. Incredible.

The site is pitching googleprofitsinsider.com, which according to the fine print in white text in a gray background at the bottom of the page includes:

“The initial shipping and handling charge of $1.98 S&H which includes fourteen (14) days worth of access to the online directories and training. After 14 days, you will be charged MONTHLY of $47.50″

The screen capture of a Google check is in the amount of $868.55, which the fictional Beth Fisher claims is for one week of work. No evidence of $5K per month earnings from Google. And, let’s assume the check is an AdSense commission. Want to bet the expenses incurred ate up a nice chunk of “Beth’s” commission. Of course, because Beth doesn’t exist, the payee name on the check has been whited out.

Who owns the domains involved? That’s a good question. The “Christian” owner has them registered by proxy so the WHOIS doesn’t reveal identity.

It gets better. This link shows that bethsmoney.com was being used to pike government grants less than six months ago. The photos show a U.S. Treasury Check (tax refund?) and a check that Beth is claiming is a government grant check that just happens to be the same as a Google check with the payor’s name blurred out.

If you want to apply religious and moral principles to your business, by all means do so.

However, the deceptive and fraudulent tactics engaged in by people who own websites like bethsmoney.com are clearly unacceptable. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should make an example of them.

Filed Under: CyberCrime, Federal Trade Commission, Internet Marketing, Scams Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

FTC Proposed Business Opportunity Rule

On April 5, 2006, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a new Business Opportunity Rule.

In 44 pages , the FTC made it clear that it is heading towards regulating Internet businesses like brick-and-mortar ventures.

Because of the hostile public response, particularly among MLM/network marketing organizations, this proposal has temporarily been shelved while the Federal Trade Commission considers less draconian measures.

It may be years before a final FTC rule is issued but it will come.

Gazing into the crystal ball, one sees Internet businesses becoming as heavily regulated as franchises, the securities industry, and banking.

What does this mean to you?

The FTC already has the power to shut down businesses for violating existing law.

Take an hour to read this book to become acquainted with the Federal Trade Commission and how it works.

After you’ve read it, consult with your legal counsel and take whatever steps are needed to ensure that you’re in full compliance with consumer protection laws.

Filed Under: Federal Trade Commission, Internet Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Internet Lawyer: Federal Trade Commission Proposed BizOpp Rule

As an Internet lawyer, I originally considered titling this Federal Trade Commission-related post “How To Dupe Marketers Into Paying Capitol Hill Lobbyists” but thought I’d be kind.

For those who have been following the issue, the Federal Trade Commission promulgated a proposed business opportunity rule in April that would essentially destroy MLM/network marketing and curtail the online marketing of business opportunities in general because of draconian disclosure requirements. These disclosures would include earnings disclaimers, contact information for 10 purchasers, etc. If you’re a masochist, Internet lawyer, or have insomnia, here is a link to the proposed rule.
After receiving tens of thousands of hostile public comments, the FTC has made no decision.

However, some online marketers are panicking because they haven’t talked with their Internet lawyer…and the lobbyists are hyping the bogeyman to generate more work.

I telephoned one of the people handling the proposal at the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, Division of Marketing Practices. No rule is imminent. There may never be a rule. There may be hearings. There may be workshops.

There may be a modified rule sometime in the future. That’s likely because the government prefers to control through a combination of taxes and regulation.
If an online marketer decides to pay for lobbying on the issue, make sure that the recipient isn’t the firm of Redundant, Irrelevant & Redundancy. In plain English, make sure the money is actually being spent on something worthwhile instead of duplicating work already being done by others, such as the MLM/network marketing organizations. It is naive to think that the Amways, Primericas, and Mary Kays of the world are going to do nothing as they’re regulated out of business by the Federal Trade Commission. Because I’m an Internet lawyer, I’ll be following this issue closely and probably will post updates if something significant happens.

Filed Under: Federal Trade Commission Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
How to Identify Internet Marketing Scams Very EasilyInternet Marketing Scams – Important MessageRecognizing Online Marketing Scams - How to Design WebsitesInternet Marketing Help – Best Business Opportunity – work at home online jobsHow 2 Work From Home – Internet Marketing Mentor

Free! Get Internet legal and marketing updates plus 3 chapters of the #1 Internet legal protection book for business website owners. Over 40 pages packed with strategies you can use to protect yourself without a lawyer.

Free! Get Internet legal and marketing updates plus 3 chapters of the #1 Internet legal protection book for business website owners. Over 40 pages packed with strategies you can use to protect yourself without a lawyer.